[SoloAz]

@annem302, my in-app name is Jet Fierce. Thanks!

[SoloAz]

Still have a slot open? Looking for an active clan to join. I’m at L120, L8 clan contribution, and daily active. Thanks.

[SoloAz]

Hey, @metztli013. What’s the deal with smartbombs? Does it affect gameplay in some way? Thanks.

[SoloAz]

@cbya, Def not a stud by any means (most spent per day has been 80 gems), so I’m grateful to not be in the group that’s scoring those highly suspicious scores…

Sorry, I’m a total noob at image uploads, so here’s the direct link if the above isn’t showing up: https://www.angrybirdsnest.com/members/soloaz/album/picture/19502/

[SoloAz]

One thing I noticed about this comp is you score no points for collateral damage (i.e., pigs, WMTs, etc), only for the goal item. So it’s gonna to be extra important that we don’t get a bunch of “empty nodes” this time around. We’ll see.

[SoloAz]

Thanks, @20qmindreader, I think I get the gist of it now…
Game balancing mechanics: make it utterly impossible to compete without using a boatload of gems, all the while taunting players with a crate of gems they couldn’t ever possibly achieve.

[SoloAz]

This is quite literally the only instance where Heatwave or Sentinel Prime come in handy. Like many others mentioned, carry him with you and on the off chance you get a few WMTs, tag him in for the sole purpose of obliterating them. Makes a huge diff in numbers—of course, this totally hinges on whether you actually see/get any WMTs. lol

[SoloAz]

Can you address why the Tfs are significantly weaker in the contest than they are in the regular nodes? Specifically, they’re over heating faster, taking on more damage and unable destroy many of the targets despite being upgraded and accessorized.

@pampeans, I’m going to hazard a guess that the answer to this million-dollar question also answers why it is Energon Soundwave, Soundwave, and Soundblaster are no longer available in Jenga mode. They were only the three most powerful and effective TFs in this mode—but hey, WDIK.

[SoloAz]

@20qmindreader, +1

[SoloAz]

Thanks, the math to the crate(s) is just what I was after.

@droversdog, I can confirm: WMTs are worth 1 measly point.

[SoloAz]

Hey, @millforce2k, do you know how long the comp is for? Can’t find it anywhere. Thanks!

[SoloAz]

Well, it definitely impacted my outcome since I couldn’t participate for over 48 hours (leaving me 1800 tokens short for exclusive TF), but I will just have to get over it since there is no recourse.

[SoloAz]

@millforce2k, I’ve run several successful nodes “clicking blind.” All of those nodes have counted so far. I hope Rovio will make an exception and let us cash out gems for the shortfall because this wasn’t a case of opting out of the challenge, just not being able to get it to load.

[SoloAz]

@millforce2k, nope it just fades out. Although I did accidentally discover that the challenge screen is there, just hidden. After clicking around on the faded screen, I was able to run a challenge node. So I’ve been able to load my TF by clicking the blank space, then advance into the challenge node by clicking the exact same spot where the Play/Next button would be (even though it’s not visible). It’s crazy, but it works. Of course, doesn’t do me much good because I lost 3 days of play, but it was a fun find.

[SoloAz]

@millforce2k, you nailed it. That’s exactly what’s happening. I actually have only been able to do 1 challenge node per day, then that happens. I thought it had resolved itself, but it literally only lets me do a node every 8 hours or so. At this rate, no way I unlock the exclusive TF. Oh well…

[SoloAz]

What a difference 2 days make: I was able to access the challenge and play several nodes this AM. Here’s hoping it has resolved itself!

[SoloAz]

@gradientturtle7, nothing is happening when I click the challenge icon. The background fades out as if it’s going to load, then nothing happens. I can play regular nodes okay, just can’t get into the challenge to save my life. :-|

[SoloAz]

@millforce2k, no such luck for me, and I’ve gone as far as restarting my phone. No access to the challenge for a full 24 hours and counting. @gradientturtle7, could sure use some help here. I’ll submit a tix in the meantime.

[SoloAz]

Had this happen to me three times when I selected Soundwave. Definitely something weird going on.

[SoloAz]

Thanks, @werehamsta. Yeah, the upgrade was definitely NOT worth it. I completely forgot how they screwed up the lab so now it’s worthless (downgrading of gem prizes). Meh. Where’s the “undo update” button when you need it?

[SoloAz]

Just updated to this version, and I have double-checked to make sure I’m still playing ABT. It’s the most uneventful update I’ve done in the history of updates. No uninstall then reinstall, no coin, gem, progress loss. I’m utterly speechless. Few things I noticed:

1. Heavy AB 2 promo. They’ve sent in “reinforcements” so your buddy is pretty much on steroids. He tags along for 25 s instead of 15. His weapon is very powerful, and he recharges almost instantly. You only get 1 buddy though, so no choosing there.

2. Layout is different, but I skipped right past the 1.8.9 update (on Android v1.8.10.7 now), so it’s probably not new to you guys. I like that I can access the lab from the bottom of the screen now.

No Shockwave, but hopefully he’ll make an appearance soon. I did notice that on missions now, there’s what looks to be a refresh button with a gem alongside it to the bottom left of the finish mission w/ gems option. Anybody know what that is? Not brave enough to try it. LOL.

Sorry I have no screen grabs. Try as I might, I can never get my screenshot feature to work in ABT.

[SoloAz]

Thanks, @optimuspig. Just when you get used to playing it one way, they go and change it. It’s like a game within the game. Never know what they’ll do next. I really need to let this game go…

[SoloAz]

@20qmindreader, @optimuspig, stay tuned. They’ll make their rounds on iOS soon enough. Their claim, based on their response, is that it’s better for us to have smaller silos since we don’t have to spend time farming materials. But like @jman points out, everyone has their preference. The irony is that in limiting our gameplay/strategy options, they’re gaming us. I won’t even start my rant on how thoughtless stripping away our storage without giving us back our gems lost or a coin cashout was. I was maxed out on every item, then I wasn’t. Most of us love the game—which is why we continue to play despite all the baits and switches—but there’s only so much one can take. This should have been a “pay to play” model like those before. I would have happily plunked down $0.99 or whatever the going rate was for a game that was stable and not changed at every whim, all for the sake of nickel-and-diming.

NONE of the other AB games I’ve played are this level of absurd. But I haven’t played them in a while, so what do I know…

[SoloAz]

My argument was that the new increased silo storage was actually promoted during the Bluestreak upgrade. Just wished I would not have spent all that time filling it up. It would have been nice to know beforehand but I seem to be managing the new gameplay strategy. Quicker nodes is a huge plus.

@robert-batek

My arguments? Where to begin? LOL! All of what you said, plus the fact that we don’t get back the gems we spent to increase our silos. Kinda like buying a car and them coming to repo it after it’s paid off. Hmmm, practices like this just don’t fly in the real world. Quicker nodes is a distraction from the ultimate purpose for decreasing the silos. I mean, come on, we all know why that happened. A blind man on the moon could see why. And so much time spent on alleged “gameplay enhancements”? Well, here’s one for ya: FIX. ALL. THE. ABT. BUGS. The End.

[SoloAz]

Well, folks, new levels are not a glitch. Here is what I got from Rovio:

Joonas, Sep 8, 07:01:
Hello there,

and thank you for contacting us!

As a part of optimizing the gameplay experience, the possible amounts in the silo have indeed been decreased. However, along with this change we also made some drastic changes to the upgrade material costs, which were decreased dramatically as well. In the end, these actions were taken in order to streamline the gameplay and guide players towards playing the actual game, instead of getting stuck with farming materials. Once you get back to playing the game, I hope you can see that even if these values have changed, the game itself has not experienced any critical changes gameplay-wise :)

Please, if you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to get back to us!

Best regards,

Joonas
Rovio Support Team

Has anyone actually gotten a response from Rovio that led to their silo being increased on Android? My love-hate relationship that I have with this game is leaning more and more toward the latter.